Once upon a time in California, there was a serious bird problem. It turns out that these little feathered creatures were carrying something called salmonella, which made people sick. Yikes! It all started when the California Department of Fish and Wildlife noticed that pine siskins, these cute birds with brown and yellow streaks, were getting sick.
In fact, many of them were dying because of salmonella.
People were finding them left and right and freaked out, so they started calling the wildlife centers for help. But here's the thing, this outbreak didn't just affect the pine siskins. Even American goldfinches and lesser goldfinches were getting sick too.
It was a full-blown bird epidemic! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had to step in and warn everyone about the danger. Turns out, this salmonella bacteria spreads like wildfire,
passing from birds to pets and even to humans. So far, eight states have reported human illnesses, with some people needing to be hospitalized. It's serious stuff! But fear not, fellow bird lovers!
The CDC has some tips to help us protect ourselves and our adorable little friends. First and foremost, we need to keep our wild bird feeders clean. That means washing them with hot soapy water and disinfecting them with a water-bleach solution.
And don't forget to wash our hands afterwards! We also need to teach our pets some manners.
Those furry rascals shouldn't go near the bird feeders or bird baths. We don't want them tracking diseases into our homes. And let's not forget to wash our hands after handling their food bowls and toys. It's all about good hygiene, folks!
Oh, and one more thing, no more feeding wild birds by hand. Yes, we know it's tempting, but it just increases the risk of spreading salmonella.
Let's stick to using feeders instead. If we stumble upon a sick bird, we shouldn't panic. Just give a call to our local wildlife control or rehabilitation agency for advice on what to do next. And if we find a dead bird but it didn't meet its fate because of an animal or a window, it's important to contact the fish and wildlife agency in our state.
They'll guide us on what's happening in our area.
So my fellow bird enthusiasts, let's do our part to protect these beautiful creatures and ourselves from this salmonella madness. It's time to clean those bird feeders, keep our pets in check, and be responsible bird lovers. We can do this!
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